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The Edmonton Oilers were recently blindsided after the St. Louis Blues successfully sent offer sheets to restricted free agents (RFAs) Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg who both chose to sign the deals, leaving the Oilers in a tough spot with no money available as they try to match the contracts within seven days.

While there were reports that the Oilers could bring both Holloway and Broberg back on deals worth roughly $1 million per season, the team opted to delay re-signing both of them. They are tight to the salary cap, so with the Blues offering Broberg $4.8 million annually over two seasons while offering Holloway $2.2 million over two seasons, they need to shed some money if they hope to bring them both back.

Looking short-term, it would be a tough pill to swallow for the Oilers if they have to give up a draft pick to shed Ceci. However, it would be more important to consider why the long-term plan would make this a smart move.

There is no guarantee Ceci will re-sign, and he is an aging veteran whose play is declining at a rapid rate. Broberg is the polar opposite, as he continues to elevate his game and has the potential to become a top-four defender within a couple of seasons. Realistically, moving Ceci to keep Broberg would be a smart move.

Ceci could be a solid addition for the Sharks as well, even if it’s just temporary. Their defensive lineup is weak, and it’s something that should worry Sharks fans if they hope to fight their way out of last place this season.

Having a potential superstar in Macklin Celebrini join the team will be huge for the Sharks and while they made some strong moves in free agency, they still have the weakest lineup in the NHL.

By no means is Ceci a needle-mover who could elevate the Sharks into a fringe playoff team, but he could be a perfect asset that makes general manager (GM) Mike Grier look like a genius. In his article, Peng doesn’t mention that a deal is close between the two teams, but the fit makes perfect sense.

At the end of the day, the Oilers have to do something sooner rather than later unless they want to lose both Holloway

In a recent report from San Jose Sharks’ insider and pundit Sheng Peng, he lists the Sharks as a team who could help bail the Oilers out so they could retain both youngsters. While acknowledging Evander Kane’s injury situation and mentioning he will likely be placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) which could help the Oilers temporarily, his $5.125 million cap relief still wouldn’t be enough to match the offer sheets.

In his article, he mentions that the Sharks have been looking to add a right-shot defender, so Cody Ceci could be someone of interest.

Peng also talks about Brett Kulak, but he thinks Ceci is a better trade target. The Sharks could, theoretically, take Ceci and a draft pick from the Oilers in exchange for a prospect or a later pick from the draft.

By improving his game before the Sharks’ Trade Deadline in 2025, Ceci could become a desirable rental and the Sharks could acquire even more assets by trading him to a rival. As they continue their lengthy rebuild, they won’t be contending for a playoff spot.

However, their management might be smart if they take advantage of the Oilers’ difficult situation by properly managing their assets. The Oilers would have a hard time letting go of Ceci if they had to give up a draft pick in the short term. But it’s more important to think about the reasons why the long-term plan would make this a good move.

Ceci is an aging veteran whose play is rapidly declining, and his resigning is not guaranteed. Broberg, on the other hand, has the potential to become a top-four defender within a few seasons as he continues to improve his game. Realistically, it would be wise to move Ceci to keep Broberg.

Even if Ceci is only a short-term addition, he could still be a valuable addition for the Sharks. If the Sharks want to climb out of last place this season, they should be worried about their weak defensive lineup.

The Sharks will benefit greatly from the addition of Macklin Celebrini, a player who has the potential to become a superstar. However, despite their strong moves in free agency, they still have the NHL’s weakest lineup.

Ceci is not a needle-mover who has the potential to make the Sharks a fringe playoff team, but he could be a perfect asset that makes GM Mike Grier look like a genius.

Peng doesn’t say in his article that the two teams are close to a deal, but the fit makes perfect sense. In the end, the Oilers need to take action as soon as possible to avoid losing both Broberg and Holloway.